Chapter 66
66 Escape
When the fleeing party reached the town, they saw that the shops in town were all closed. Along the way, they encountered a few groups of families who had fled with their families. Everyone walked forward with solemn expressions.
Li Yu sat beside Zhou Jia and looked at the paddy fields along the way that had all become bare. The bare branches and trunks by the roadside were also covered in locusts eating tree bark.
Li Yu thought about how it was time for the crops to run out. Seeing that the harvest for the entire season was gone and the victims were out of food, she wondered if the Imperial Court would help.
“Zhou Jia, in this season, there’s no supply. Everyone’s food has been eaten by locusts. Will the Imperial Court distribute relief food?”
“It’s difficult. I’m afraid the current Imperial Court doesn’t have the money to help with the disaster.” Zhou Jia lowered his voice. “The Imperial Court has been building palaces since a few years ago. I’m afraid the Ministry of Revenue won’t be able to fork out the money to help with the disaster.”
“Then what will these victims eat without food?” Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and asked.
“Would they care about that? They just need to keep their official hats on their heads. You’ll know when we reach Green Mountain City. If I’m not wrong, I’m afraid the city gates are already closed.”
At this moment, the village chief shouted from behind, “Mr. Zhou, stop and rest for a while. Those walking behind can’t catch up.”
Zhou Jia stopped the mule cart and jumped out. He shouted at Ji Xiang, “Ji Xiang, stop and rest for a while.”
The mule cart slowly stopped by the roadside, and the people behind followed. Liu Changyun’s wife, Madam Ye, poked Liu Changyun and glanced at Liu Changmin’s ox cart. Liu Changyun understood.
Liu Changyun walked to Old Madam Liu, who was sitting by the roadside. He pointed at the two children and looked at Old Madam Liu. “Mother, go and talk to Eldest Brother. Bring Baojin and Baoyin to the carriage to rest for a while.”
Liu Baojin and Liu Baoyin also ran up and pulled Old Madam Liu’s hand to complain, “Grandma, go to Uncle and tell him to let me sit on the ox cart!”
Old Madam Liu’s heart ached when she saw her two grandsons sweating profusely. “It’s been hard on my good grandsons! I’ll go tell your uncle now.”
Li Mei watched coldly as Old Madam Liu walked towards Liu Changmin and warned him, “Your mother is here. If you promise her anything, fulfill it yourself. Don’t think about ruining us.”
Liu Changmin looked at Li Mei and her daughters and said firmly, “Ah Mei, don’t worry. I won’t be confused.”
Old Madam Liu walked to the ox cart and reprimanded Zhaodi and Lai Di with a cold expression. “Why are you two sitting in the cart? Don’t you have any sense? Hurry up and get down. Let Bao Jin and Bao Yin sit.”
Laidi looked at Old Madam Liu. “Why should we give them seats? This is my cousin’s ox cart.”
“Loser, how dare you talk back.” Old Madam Liu raised her hand and slapped Laidi.
Liu Changmin grabbed Old Madam Liu’s hand and looked at her coldly. The respect in his eyes was gone. “Mother, I will discipline my daughter myself. Besides, this cart belongs to Xiaoyu’s family. If Jin Bao and the others want to take the cart, Xiaoyu has to agree.”
Liu Changyun walked over and smiled at Liu Changmin hypocritically. “Big Brother, how can you speak to Mother like this?”
Li Mei looked at the Liu mother and son coldly. Liu Changmin looked at Liu Changyun and said, “I am disobedient and unfilial. It’s fine as long as you’re filial to her.”
Zhaodi and Li Yu walked over with sesame cakes and water bags. When Old Madam Liu saw Li Yu, she pulled Liu Changyun and her grandson and ran off.
Li Yu handed the water bag to Zhaodi and walked to the village chief’s car. She said to the village chief, “Grandpa Village Chief, we have to walk a little faster. At this speed, I’m afraid we won’t be able to reach Green Mountain City by noon.”
Chen Yaohui looked at the sun in the sky and wiped his sweat. “That’s right! If we’re delayed for two more days on the road, we have to eat and drink more. Let’s hurry up.”
Madam Li looked at Chuanzhou and Chuanzhou and said worriedly, “The children’s feet are hurting from walking too much.”
Li Yu looked at the brothers’ red faces and thought for a moment. “Auntie Li, bring them to Ruyi’s place in front to take a ride. Everyone can rotate.”
Madam Li patted the two children happily. “Hurry up and thank Sister Xiaoyu.”
After thanking Li Yu, the two children followed Madam Li to Ruyi. Chen Baozhen was about to speak when she saw the village chief looking at her with a dark expression. She hurriedly shut her mouth and did not dare to make a sound.
The village chief shouted again, and the crowd began to move again.
After walking for another two hours, they were almost at Green Mountain City. Along the way, everyone did not see a single green plant. There were locusts everywhere. The more people flew, the more desperate they felt. They felt that this world had already become a world of locusts.
After rushing for a while, the fleeing party finally arrived at Green Mountain City before noon.
Zhou Jia’s guess was right. The gates of Green Mountain City were tightly shut, and the entrance was filled with people who were about to enter the city.
Li Yu looked at the tightly shut city gates and thought of those ancient dramas on television in her previous life. They portrayed corrupt officials. Whenever a natural disaster happened, they would close the city gates tightly and not care about the lives of the commoners. She did not expect to really encounter them.
Zhou Jia pointed at the official road in the south and said loudly to Ruyi, “There’s no need to enter the city. Let’s take a detour and go to Qi County from the south.”
Ruyi agreed loudly and drove the mule cart towards the official road to the south.
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and pointed at the road ahead. “There’s a forest in Green Mountain City. Let’s rest there for a while. We have to rush to Chongyun Town today. We can only cross the Cloud Stream Peak tomorrow morning.”
When Li Yu heard Zhou Jia mention Cloud Stream Peak, his tone was especially heavy. She looked at him in confusion. “Zhou Jia, is there a problem with Cloud Stream Peak?”
“That mountain road has a cliff on the left and a deep stream on the right. The road is very narrow. Once the sky turns dark, the mountain road will be surrounded by clouds and mist. It’s impossible to see the road ahead clearly. If we don’t go over early, we’ll be afraid that someone will fall down the mountain stream if we can’t see the road clearly.”
“Oh! I see. That road is so narrow. If a convoy comes from the other side, can they avoid it?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. That path is divided into two. We can pass through it alone in a day. If we can reach Chongyun Town tonight, we can go up the mountain tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll talk to the village chief and get everyone to hurry or we’ll be delayed for a day.”
Li Yu handed the reins to Zhou Jia and jumped out of the car. She walked to the village chief’s ox cart and told him about the road situation. When the village chief heard this, he nodded repeatedly. “We have to hurry. Every day we delay means another day of expenses.”
“Grandpa Village Chief, make it clear to everyone. I’m going back to steer the cart.”
The village chief shouted at the top of his lungs and told the people behind him about the road situation. He shouted to everyone, “Everyone, hurry up and rest after crossing the mountain tomorrow.”
The villagers were all sweating profusely, especially the children who were following behind their parents. The older ones were holding the younger ones’ hands with tears in their eyes as they. staggered forward.
Li Yu returned to the car and sped up. An hour later, they arrived at the forest Zhou Jia had mentioned.
The forest had become bare. There was not even a blade of grass left on the ground.